Students make meaning from their experiences and their own natural curiosity. Thinking back on my own experiences in school, first as a student, then as a teacher, I remembered the most effective lessons were the ones in which the students were active participants in the learning process. Using this knowledge, I incorporated experiential learning throughout my daily lessons. Activities such as a lab which allowed students to model the greenhouse effect, or simulate earthquakes through the use of models allows student the opportunities to not only visualize the concept but to experience it. Offering the student the opportunity to experience the material, rather than act as empty vessels in which to pour knowledge into, produces a more successful and engaged learner.
This student-centered model also allows me the opportunity to differentiate my teaching strategies. Recognizing that no two students rarely ever think or learn in the same way, differentiation of instruction is something that will be essential in my classroom in order to keep students motivated. This is accomplished through cooperative group learning, as well as varying activities and offering a choice of assessments when applicable. This choice allows students to highlight their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses, all while demonstrating their mastery of the content.
Community involvement is also a big part of my students learning. Through my experiences as a biology and general science instructor, I found that students were the most curious about their own local environment. Bringing the community into the classroom helps to further cement the concepts, by making the learning process relevant to the student. Activities I have led such as learning about the local watershed or doing deer population surveys at a local farm not only get the student interested in the activity, but encourage students active participation in their education.
The role of the teacher in my vision of the classroom is to be a facilitator, advisor and advocate for the students. It is the role of the teacher to model effective learning strategies, monitor student progress, encourage student questions and promote student learning. The teacher is a part of the student’s support system. Their job is to listen to the students and advocate for the best possible learning situation. It is to this degree that teamwork is an essential part of my teaching skill set. Working as an effective team member, I will be able to provide the most appropriate resources for my students and my school. As a teacher, maintaining a safe and nurturing learning environment for the students is a top priority. Creating classroom norms and engaging lessons will encourage appropriate student behavior.
Becoming involved with local organizations in the community will also serve my classroom as an extension of the learning process. Organizations that I have worked with in the past such as the Audubon Society, Save the Bay and URI allow my students more opportunities than standard classroom-based instruction my skills as an educator develop, allowing me to create innovating and exciting teaching experiences for my students.
Fostering student curiosity and creating a positive learning environment for the student will encourage them to grow into avid learners and independent, curious minds. My success as a teacher will be measured on my student’s ability to think independently, critically and logically. Student’s ability to do so, along with aligning appropriate lessons with the state and national standards, will create students who are successful on the state’s test, successful in their education and successful in their lives. My goal as a teacher and the ultimate measure of my success will be if the student leaves my classroom with a more positive outlook on learning, more knowledge than they had when they walked in on their first day, and a more inquisitive mind for future learning.
Students make meaning from their experiences and their own natural curiosity. Thinking back on my own experiences in school, first as a student, then as a teacher, I remembered the most effective lessons were the ones in which the students were active participants in the learning process. Using this knowledge, I incorporated experiential learning throughout my daily lessons. Activities such as a lab which allowed students to model the greenhouse effect, or simulate earthquakes through the use of models allows student the opportunities to not only visualize the concept but to experience it. Offering the student the opportunity to experience the material, rather than act as empty vessels in which to pour knowledge into, produces a more successful and engaged learner.
This student-centered model also allows me the opportunity to differentiate my teaching strategies. Recognizing that no two students rarely ever think or learn in the same way, differentiation of instruction is something that will be essential in my classroom in order to keep students motivated. This is accomplished through cooperative group learning, as well as varying activities and offering a choice of assessments when applicable. This choice allows students to highlight their strengths and improve upon their weaknesses, all while demonstrating their mastery of the content.
Community involvement is also a big part of my students learning. Through my experiences as a biology and general science instructor, I found that students were the most curious about their own local environment. Bringing the community into the classroom helps to further cement the concepts, by making the learning process relevant to the student. Activities I have led such as learning about the local watershed or doing deer population surveys at a local farm not only get the student interested in the activity, but encourage students active participation in their education.
The role of the teacher in my vision of the classroom is to be a facilitator, advisor and advocate for the students. It is the role of the teacher to model effective learning strategies, monitor student progress, encourage student questions and promote student learning. The teacher is a part of the student’s support system. Their job is to listen to the students and advocate for the best possible learning situation. It is to this degree that teamwork is an essential part of my teaching skill set. Working as an effective team member, I will be able to provide the most appropriate resources for my students and my school. As a teacher, maintaining a safe and nurturing learning environment for the students is a top priority. Creating classroom norms and engaging lessons will encourage appropriate student behavior.
Becoming involved with local organizations in the community will also serve my classroom as an extension of the learning process. Organizations that I have worked with in the past such as the Audubon Society, Save the Bay and URI allow my students more opportunities than standard classroom-based instruction my skills as an educator develop, allowing me to create innovating and exciting teaching experiences for my students.
Fostering student curiosity and creating a positive learning environment for the student will encourage them to grow into avid learners and independent, curious minds. My success as a teacher will be measured on my student’s ability to think independently, critically and logically. Student’s ability to do so, along with aligning appropriate lessons with the state and national standards, will create students who are successful on the state’s test, successful in their education and successful in their lives. My goal as a teacher and the ultimate measure of my success will be if the student leaves my classroom with a more positive outlook on learning, more knowledge than they had when they walked in on their first day, and a more inquisitive mind for future learning.